Support device

Abstract

A support device for improving the haptics and / or gripping impression of humanoid or android type hands includes an active surface that interacts with parts (16, 18, 22) of the respective hand to carry out a movement and that has individual stem-like projections. Each projection has a free end face such that the projections at least partially improve the adhesion of at least parts of the hand or a hand protector (10) to surfaces, particularly smooth or delicate surfaces, that are touched. The respective free end faces (26) of the projections (24) are designed such that their adhesion results from acting van der Waals forces between the free end faces (26) and the touched surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a support device for improving the haptics and / or gripping impression for hands when touching surfaces that are especially smooth and / or delicate.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]When touching smooth and / or delicate surfaces, for executing a movement, for example, by bare human hands or by the hands of a robot, there is the risk of an inadvertent relative movement between the surface and the hand touching it. This relative movement, for example, in the case of an article grasped by the hand can lead to its slipping out of the hand and the article being damaged in a subsequent and uncontrolled movement. Especially for delicate surfaces, reliable handling cannot be achieved by simple measures such as, for example, increasing the force acting on the article touched by the hand, since increased force can result in damage of a delicate surface.[0003]WO 2008 / 113816 A2 discloses a support device (glove) for improving the grasping impress...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a support device that improves the feel of hands when touching smooth surfaces. The device uses van der Waals forces to adhere to the surface, preventing accidental movement between the hand and surface. The device is gentle and can be used on delicate surfaces.

Problems solved by technology

When touching smooth and / or delicate surfaces, for executing a movement, for example, by bare human hands or by the hands of a robot, there is the risk of an inadvertent relative movement between the surface and the hand touching it.

This relative movement, for example, in the case of an article grasped by the hand can lead to its slipping out of the hand and the article being damaged in a subsequent and uncontrolled movement.

Especially for delicate surfaces, reliable handling cannot be achieved by simple measures such as, for example, increasing the force acting on the article touched by the hand, since increased force can result in damage of a delicate surface.

The cup-like projection then forms a kind of widening plate edge that, for improved adhesion of the projection to the indicated article, leads to an increase of friction.

The disadvantage in these known solutions is that to some extent only inadequate adhesion occurs between the support device and the article to be touched and that the projections in part project far from the support device.

These characteristics adversely affect the ease of operation.

Furthermore, the known solutions are to some extent complex to produce, and therefore expensive.

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